ALL SCHOOLS TO CLOSE TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21966, 15 December 1936, Page 10

ALL SCHOOLS TO CLOSE TO-DAY

0 Infantile Paralysis Outbreak ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY MINISTER (I’KKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, December 14. The Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) announces that in view of the outbreak of infantile paralysis in Dunedin, it has been decided, as a precautionary measure, to start the school holidays from to-morrow throughout the Dominion. In the ordinary course the schools would close on Thursday or Friday of this week. The evidence up to the present is that the infection is confined to Dunedin; but it is necessary to take every possible step to prevent it from spreading to other districts. In the event of indications of infection appearing outside Otago, the Health Department, which is closely watching the position and which has done everything possible to confine the scope of the disease, will issue the necessary instructions to other parts of the Dominion. In the meantime the Health Department wishes to emphasise that children should be kept as much as possible in the open air. ADVICE RECEIVED IN CANTERBURY An urgent telegram was received yesterday from the Education Department by the secretary of the Canterbury Education Board (Mr L. E. Rowley) announcing the beginning of the school vacation this morning because of the outbreak of infantile paralysis at Dunedin, and stating that children may assemble this morning, but attendances need not be recorded. The telegram is as follows: — , , . , “In view of the outbreak of intantile paralysis in Dunedin, and with the object of impressing on parents the desirability of keeping children in the open air as much as possible al present, it has been decided that the Christmas vacation will begin to-morrow, Tuesday. Children may assemble in the morning but attendance need not be recorded. Teachers should complete their returns and post them before leaving for the holidays. Please make this decision as widely known as possible.” REASSURING REPORTS AT AUCKLAND NO CASES OF PARALYSIS (rassa association telegram.) AUCKLAND, December 14. Reassuring reports of the complete absence of any cases of infantile paralysis in Auckland were made to-night by the city health and medical authorities. At the same time, strict precautions are being taken to see that children do not congregate in large bodies inside buildings. The outbreak in Dunedin and its results came after most of the Auckland secondary schools had held their breaking-up gatherings. Of those few which had arranged them for this or next week, if they have not decided to cancel them, they have made hurried arrangements to limit the ceremonies so that no risk will be attached to the children. THREE MORE CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, December 14. Three more children were admitted to hospital to-night with symptoms suggesting that they had contracted infantile paralysis, and were placed under observation. This makes a total of 17 patients and suspects.